Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/562

 OF ELIZABETH. [CH. general applause of the whole House, to revive the pro- ceedings against her in the Parliament of 1572.' Elizabeth was not encouraging, and it was dropped. A liberal subsidy, and a petition from the Commons against the slovenliness, the corruption, and growing tyranny of the bishops, closed the labours of the session, and the Queen, well satisfied, as she had reason to be, with the forbearance which had been displayed towards her, condescended to give both Houses her warm and heartfelt thanks. She complimented them in the speech from the throne on having neglected their private future peril and regarded only her present state. She showed them that she understood and valued their unselfish consideration for her. Her language in all ways was unusually genuine and dignified. She threw a shield over the bishops, but she told them that ' if they did not amend their faults' she 'would depose them.' She defended her general religious policy, repelled the ac- cusation -of lukewarmness, and appealed to her present position as a proof of her sincerity. For religion, and for religion only, she said her life was in hourly peril. She foresaw, when she originally chose her course, that she would have the mightiest and greatest to wrestle with : she knew the danger, and had deliberately en- countered it, and now she was too much wronged if she was charged with coldness. She was persuaded that her 1 A petition, it will be remem- bered, was presented for her exe- cution as an accomplice in the treason of the Duke of Norfolk. Elizabeth to the Queen of Scots, March 22, 1585 : MSS. MAKY QUEEN OF SCOTS.